Education Recruitment Advertising and Resourcing Services
Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS) · Local or regional public body
In brief
Southern Universities Management Services (SUMS) is looking for suppliers for marketing and recruitment work (South East).
The estimated value is £80,000,000 excluding VAT.
The contract runs for 2 years, up to 4 years with extensions, starting 1 March 2027.
It is split into 5 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.
The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
Bids close at midday, Friday 19 February 2027.
Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.
Can I win this?
Key dates
- Questions by
- midday, Friday 6 November 2026
- Bids by
- midday, Friday 19 February 2027
How bids are scored
Commercial 40% · Quality 60%
Quality matters most. You can win without being the cheapest.
Competition
Usually high: a median of 10 bids per contract for marketing contracts in this region (from 88 awards in the last 12 months).
Conditions
- You can bid for up to 2 lots.
What the notice says
Should I bid?
Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.
How to bid
- Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
- Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Submit your bid through the buyer's e-tendering portal: uk.eu-supply.com.
- Send clarification questions before midday, Friday 6 November 2026.
- Make sure your bid arrives before midday, Friday 19 February 2027. Late bids are usually rejected.
Lots
| Lot | Trade | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 – Education Recruitment Advertising & Resourcing 1 March 2027 to 28 February 2029 What this lot covers2.2 Services may include, but shall not be limited to: • Advertising planning; • Advertising placement; • Media buying; • Media negotiations; • Recruitment advertising consultancy; • Advertising scheduling; • Advertising optimisation; • Recruitment campaign management. | Recruitment and staffing, Marketing and communications, Printing | £16,000,000 |
| Lot 2A –UK Student Recruitment Marketing and Attraction Services 1 March 2027 to 28 February 2029 What this lot coversServices Included Within this Lot Recruitment marketing strategy and campaign planning Media planning, buying and optimisation Digital and offline advertising Creative campaign development and content Audience targeting, engagement and attraction Campaign analytics and performance reporting | Recruitment and staffing, Marketing and communications, Printing | £16,000,000 |
| Lot 2B –UK Student Recruitment Platforms and Marketplace Services 1 March 2027 to 28 February 2029 What this lot coversServices Included Within this Lot Institution and course listings Student marketplaces and discovery platforms Course search, comparison and recommendation services Enquiry, lead and application referral Cost-per-application or cost-per-enrolment models Marketplace data, reporting and insight | Recruitment and staffing, Marketing and communications, Printing | £16,000,000 |
| Lot 3A - International Student Recruitment Marketing and Attraction Services 1 March 2027 to 28 February 2029 What this lot coversServices Included Within this Lot International recruitment strategy and campaign planning Country- or region-specific marketing campaigns International media planning, buying and optimisation Digital advertising and audience targeting Creative development, multilingual content and localisation Campaign analytics and performance reporting | Recruitment and staffing, Marketing and communications, Printing | £16,000,000 |
| Lot 3B - International Student Recruitment Platforms, Agency and Partnership Services 1 March 2027 to 28 February 2029 What this lot coversServices Included Within this Lot Education agent and recruitment partner networks In-country representation and student counselling Direct enquiry-to-enrolment support Offer-holder engagement and conversion Application support and admissions processing Success-fee and volume-based recruitment models | Recruitment and staffing, Marketing and communications, Printing | £16,000,000 |
Timeline
- Tender notice · UK4, notice 099922-2026
- Tender notice · UK4, notice 100165-2026
About the buyer
Procurements
8Awards
0Similar open tenders
All open marketing tenders- £60kestimated
- £30kestimated
- £75kestimated
- £90kestimated
- £5,000estimated
From notice 099922-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 22 October 2026, last updated 22 October 2026. We last checked for changes on 22 October 2026.